Bedstead



Oct. 23, 1951 w, MM 2,572,469

I BEDSTEAD Filed June 4, 1946 2v SHEETS-SHEET l l4 l3 ls FIG. l

IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 23, 1951 R. W.'GIMMLER 2,572,469

BEDSTEADY Filed June 4, 1946 ZSHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG.3

. INVENTOR.

'FIG.5

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 5 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,572,469 Q BEDSTEAD Raymond W. Gimmler, New York, N. Y.

Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 674,219

3 Claims.

:- This invention relates to bedsteads.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bedstead which will normally present the appearance of an ordinary bedstead of substantially any style or shape desired, and yet will permit the user to manipulate a portion of the panel of the headboard to give an inclined rest to facilitate reading in bed.

mm a further object to provide a device of the character described in which the inclination of the inclined rest may be altered at will.

It is a further object to provide a device which may be applied to any standard bed.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide hospital cots and stretchers with portions of the mattress-supporting framework so constructed that it may be raised up to give the patient a reclining position. Such constructions, however, are not suitable for embodiment in a standard bed in which the mattress is ordinarily thicker and supported on springs.

In accordance with this invention, the end panel of the bed is made adjustable over the mattress and over the coversthat lie upon it, so that it can beemployed if desired even without disturbing the make-up of the bed.

The invention accordingly comprises a device possessing the features, properties and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bed embodying this invention, having the upper half of the headboard panel folded downwardly. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modification in which onehalf of the headboard may be moved independently of the other. Fig. 3 is a modification showing a different form of tilting the headboard. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a further modification. Fig. 5 is a detail of the construction of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, the numeral l designates the headboard, the numeral I l a footboard, these two being joined together by side rails l2 and 13 supporting slots l4 upon which rests the mattress I5. The headboard comprises a pair of side posts Is joined together by a top rail H, and enclosing a panel which, when in place, will give the appearance of the ordinary bed panel as shown in the left-hand half of Fig. 2.

tion for normal use.

In the constructions of Figs. 1 and 2, this panel is divided into two portions, a stationary lower portion l8 and a movable upper portion IS, the movable portion [9 being hinged along its lower edge to the upper edge of the lower portion 18, and being of such size and in such position that it may be folded down to have its upper edge rest upon the mattress as shown in Fig. l, or folded back in into vertical position to present the substantially unbroken panel to the room. As shown in Fig. 1, this hinged section I!) may be upholsteredupon its rear side as shown at 20 so that when it is folded down it presents a cushioned back-rest for the occupant to lie upon. 7

This hinge may comprise a conventional hinge or it may comprise pins extending into the panel and into the side post, being fixed in one of them. In this latter case, the meeting faces of the panels will preferably be shaped as mating cylinders concentric with the pins. The angle of inclination of the hinged rest will depend upon the height of the total panel, and the dimensions of the individual panels [8 and I9. Any means such as a bolt or pin or catch not here shown may be provided for holding the panel in its upper posi- Such means are common knowledge and need not be here shown.

In the construction of Fig. 2, the upper panel I9 is divided vertically into two portions, I91; and 19b, which are independently hinged so that either half of the panel I9 may be folded down to provide a head-rest for the person who desires to read in bed, Whereas the other half may be left in its former position so that his partner may go to sleep in normal position.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, pins 2| are provided upon the upper corners of the panel I90 which is otherwise completely free from the headboard, and these pins 2| slide in slots 22 in the headboard side rails. When in normal position this panel has its pins 2| moved to the top of the slots 22 and its lower edge 23 fitted into a groove 24 in the bottom rail 25 connecting the two side-posts. When it is desired to place the panel in reading position, the lower edge 23 is lifted out of its groove 24 and moved forwardly,

The construction of Fig. 4 is similar to that of Fig. 3 in that the panel has pins 2 la extendin into a slot 22a in the side rails, but these pins are at the bottom edge of the panel, and the panel is inclined by moving the top edge forward, and lifting the bottom edge until the pins 2la fall into the desired notches 26a, shown in Fig". 5. Since this form of panel again uses the outside of the panel as the upper edge of the head-rest When in inclined position, it may be provided with upholstery as shown at 20 in Fig. 1. It will be noted that in Fig. 4, the panel is divided verti cally into two portions similar to that of Fig-:2, it being understood in both Figs. Zand 4, that both sides of the panel are alike and either side may be lowered at will independent :of the other.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and diilerent embodiments cf the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that .all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a -limitin'g sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the-invention herein described, andall statements of the scope of the invention which, as :-a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

While I have spoken of the upholstery as attached tothe panel, it will be clear that .it may be detachable if desired.

I claim:

'1. A bed designed for use with a mattress and having a headboard, said bed including a panel, pivotal connections between one edge of said panel and the remainder of the headboard whereby said panel may lie in a vertical plane to form a portion of the headboard, said head'- bo'ard having an openinginto which said panel can fit, said panel being padded and upholstered on the "back face thereof, said pivotal connections being so positioned that the panel may be swung 'out forwardly into an inclined position to rest on the top pf the mattress to bring the upholste'ring upon the upper face thereof with 4 the pivots above the level of the top face of the mattress.

2. A bed designed for use with a mattress and having a headboard, said bed includinga panel, pivotal connections between one edge of said panel and the remainder of the headboard above the normal mattress level whereby said panel may lie in a vertical plane to form a portion of the headboard, said headboard having arr-opening into which said panel can fit, said panel being padded and upholstered on the back facethereof, said pivotal connections being so positioned that the panel may be swung forwardly and downwardly into an inclined position to rest on the top of the mattress to bring the upholstering upon the upper face thereof with the pivots above the level of the top face of the mattress.

3. A'bed designed for use with a mattress and having a headboard, said bed including a panel, pivot pins projecting outwardly from {one edge of said panel, said headboard having -an'open'i'ng to be closed by said panel and having vertical slots to receive said-pins and-notches on the-edges of said slots in which said pins may rest 'at diferent levels, said slots and notches being. so positioned that the panel may be swung forwardly into an inclined position over the mattress.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file Of this patent:

UNITED STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date 7 Re. 6,561 Cahill i -July27, 1875 8,059 Stilwell -Ap1f ..-2-2, .1851 713,529 Swindell Nov. 7 ll, 1902 1,347,271 Hartman July20, 1920 FOREIGN Number Country Date 4,143 Great Britain Feb. 21,, 1903 23,053 Great Britain 0013.19, 1911 322,174 GreatiBrita'in Nov; 27, 1929 475,589 Great Britain NOV. 23,1937 511,866 Great Britain Aug. "29,1939 

